VANCOUVER, CANADA - When it comes to Valentine’s Day merchandising, Audrey Desnoyers says it’s best to keep it colorful and fresh. With so many import options at this time of year, there are many opportunities to feature bold produce offerings that grab the attention of shoppers. I got in touch with the Director of Business Development and Key Account Management at Oppy to hear her recommendations for the holiday.
“We have a range of exciting products ramping up for the day of love. Of course, we have the quintessential item for Valentine’s Day: strawberries—and not just that, but long-stem strawberries,” she began telling me. “What makes these so special, and perfect for the occasion, is the ease of dipping for chocolate-covered delights. Or, add elegance to a salad or place atop cakes and tarts.”
And it doesn’t stop at strawbs; blueberries are another deliciously sweet berry item to add to a V-day platter, Audrey said. With good volumes of the berry coming from Chile, shoppers will be eating them by the handful.
Oppy is also transitioning to the Chilean crop of red seedless grapes under the Ocean Spray label. Juicy, sweet, with a refreshing burst of flavor, they bring a beautiful ruby red color to Valentine’s Day displays.
“One more thing we’re really excited about for this holiday is Envy™ apples. When it comes to the produce aisle, there’s a new apple of the consumers’ eye, according to T&G Global North America’s Head of Marketing Cecilia Flores Paez. Envy apples drove an outstanding +38.2 percent volume growth in the last 13 weeks of 2022, consolidating its position as the number-one branded apple in the top 10 apple chart, according to Nielsen data (Total U.S. Market, L13Wks W/E 12.31.22),” Audrey explained. “This premium apple variety gains strong momentum and continues to win over the hearts and shopping carts of consumers nationwide.”
This Valentine’s season, Envy is celebrating love with a revamped campaign and new set of digital assets and envy-licious recipes. More information and inspiration can be found online at the Valentine’s Day landing page, which also includes an Instagram contest to win gift cards and an Envy apple Valentine’s gift box, and V-day-inspired recipes like an Envy Valentine Charcuterie Box and Envy Rose Cupcakes.
“It’s a great time to make eye-catching displays with gorgeous colors of red, pink, white, and beyond!” Audrey exclaimed. “Shoppers will appreciate how much tender care and love was put into crafting bright, bold displays. These can include dump bins filled with bold red Envy apples, rows of long-stem strawberry and blueberry clamshells, or red grapes in the Ocean Spray brand—beautify your produce aisle and end label pollution by offering your customers the brand they know and trust.”
Of course, February also brings about another popular eating occasion: the Super Bowl. With guacamole as a top snacking item for the Big Game, Oppy’s avocado program spans the globe to bring the freshest avocados year-round, especially at this time of year. The supplier also has avocados available with Apeel, lasting up to two times longer than untreated produce.
“We also have a wide range of hothouse peppers, including red, yellow, and orange, which make a beautiful and colorful display during any time of year. They’re also a great option for dipping into guacamole goodness over traditional chips,” Audrey stated. “And, finally, we’re really excited to bring Oppy’s first-ever vertical farming partnership UP Vertical Farms™ baby leafy greens to market soon.”
With the help of Oppy, your produce department will be shining all February long.
